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20/10/2016, 16:37

NORTHERN LIGHTS WHILST DINING IN A HISTORIC FUR TRADE FORT

RAW: Churchill

At 58� North latitude, nestled inside the Prince of Wales Fort, a National Historic Site on the shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, adventurers with a love of food can enjoy RAW: Churchill. RAW: Churchill is a transparent roof pop-up restaurant set in the middle of the fort that offers a gourmet four-course dining experience, prepared by one of Canada’s top chefs and paired with the opportunity of viewing Northern Lights. RAW: Churchill runs from 2-10 March 2018.

You start your Northern experience in Churchill where you are transferred via a Tundra Buggy. The Tundra Buggy, a vehicle typically used for polar bear viewing, is used to cross the Churchill River to the Prince of Wales Fort. You enjoy a typical fur trader’s inspired four-course meal, seated family style, inside the RAW: Churchill structure, which is erected temporarily within the walls of the Prince of Wales Fort. The structure was inspired by the Komatiks, northern dog-sledges. At one end of the tent structure is an open kitchen where it’s great to watch the chefs put the finishing touches to their gourmet meals. The roof is transparent, which allows for a sighting of the Northern lights.� The adventure continues after dinner by heading out to view the Northern Lights.� In order to have the best view of the Northern lights, you re-bord the Tundra Buggy, and travel along the frozen Churchill River, far from the fort and the lights of town.

The Prince of Wales Fort

The Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site of Canada is a huge stone fortress. It was built by the Hudson’s Bay Company in the 1700s. The fort was used for protection of their interests in the fur trade and took over 40 years to complete. The fort is a reminder of the French-English struggle for control of the fur trade. The star-shaped bastions and thick walls, which are 6.5 meters (21 feet) tall and 11 meters (36 feet) deep, make this fort nationally significant. Besides the winter RAW: Churchill experience, Parks Canada offers guided tours of the fort during the summer months. These tours however are dependent on the tides and the weather.

A seven night package including the RAW: Churchill experience starts from $4,699.